Worst case, Hobbs and Gay at CB, Sanders and Meriweather at S with James as #5. It's the Jets. They aren't a prolific downfield team. In fact I'll say we're OK against the Chargers like that too but with Samuel certainly ready by then it's not an issue.

Worst case, Hobbs and Gay at CB, Sanders and Meriweather at S with James as #5. It's the Jets. They aren't a prolific downfield team. In fact I'll say we're OK against the Chargers like that too but with Samuel certainly ready by then it's not an issue.

OK, I agree with regard to the jets game. They ARE the jets. With regard to the San Diego game, pass the Kool-aid.

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No kool aid - except for Maroney.

They're a Tomlinson-Gates led team taking some shots downfield. We're going to do fairly well with Thomas on Gates a lot. Slow down Tomlinson the best we can.

You're talking about DBs here - Samuel will be starting with Hobbs against Vincent Jackson and probably Craig Davis. Since when are they Harrison and Wayne ? I'm not saying we'll win. I'm not saying we'll stop them. But our front seven is the key there not the back four.

A few days ago, we were expected to win a closely fought game against SD. Since then we have lost Seymour and Harrison. We still believe that we will a closely fought game. We should feel that way. We are patriot fans.

They're a Tomlinson-Gates led team taking some shots downfield. We're going to do fairly well with Thomas on Gates a lot. Slow down Tomlinson the best we can.

You're talking about DBs here - Samuel will be starting with Hobbs against Vincent Jackson and probably Craig Davis. Since when are they Harrison and Wayne ? I'm not saying we'll win. I'm not saying we'll stop them. But our front seven is the key there not the back four.

Well, it's precisely because it's the Jets that I personally don't take this game as a gimme. And though I expect the Pats to win by a decent margin, one of the keys to the game is the ability to stop the slot WR. Be it Gay (if Asante suits up and starts) or James defending the slot, the DBs need to show up and play well and the safeties need to be where they're suppose to be rather than showing up two steps too late in coverage. But the flip side is, I really don't think the Jets can run against this D so Pennington's going to take some licks.

Well, it's precisely because it's the Jets that I personally don't take this game as a gimme.

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Just like the playoff game last year, it's not even a consideration to me that we'll lose. Not being a fanboy, I'm not saying that about the following week against SD. But last year in the playoffs I wasn't even nervous - we were clearly the more talented team and I knew we'd win easily barring a slew of nutty plays. Same this week.

A few days ago, we were expected to win a closely fought game against SD. Since then we have lost Seymour and Harrison. We still believe that we will a closely fought game. We should feel that way. We are patriot fans.

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That may be true, but the Pats O will also be better. Worst case, I see the differences between January and September as a push. Overall, I think it's probably (slight) advantage Pats.

I'm not saying we'll stop them. But our front seven is the key there not the back four.

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Understood - I was just giving context to my response of : "In fact I'll say we're OK against the Chargers". By saying "we're OK" I mean in the secondary.

It will certainly be an interesting test against SD - remember, last time we had Colvin and Vrabel out of position, no Seau, a limited (all season) Bruschi and TBC starting. I'm not saying we'll stop their run but we'll be a lot stronger.

I'll say this. Initial thought against SD is we play a 3-5-3. 3 DL. Vrabel, Seau, Bruschi, Colvin at LB. Thomas at LB but largely as a Safety too to slow down gates and have the two CB and either Wilson or Meriweather to stop their WR.

Understood - I was just giving context to my response of : "In fact I'll say we're OK against the Chargers". By saying "we're OK" I mean in the secondary.

It will certainly be an interesting test against SD - remember, last time we had Colvin and Vrabel out of position, no Seau, a limited (all season) Bruschi and TBC starting. I'm not saying we'll stop their run but we'll be a lot stronger.

I'll say this. Initial thought against SD is we play a 3-5-3. 3 DL. Vrabel, Seau, Bruschi, Colvin at LB. Thomas at LB but largely as a Safety too to slow down gates and have the two CB and either Wilson or Meriweather to stop their WR.

Ah, the return of the BIG nickel. I agree that Thomas would be fine for that role, or perhaps you are simply having Thomas shadow Gates.

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Basically I think Thomas will get Gates most of the game - he did a good job against him for Baltimore - but I still want 4 other LB on the field to stop (or slow down) Tomlinson. I think that group of players could do it and I'd take my chances downfield. Can't stop everything and I'm going after Tomlinson and Gates first.

Basically I think Thomas will get Gates most of the game - he did a good job against him for Baltimore - but I still want 4 other LB on the field to stop (or slow down) Tomlinson. I think that group of players could do it and I'd take my chances downfield. Can't stop everything and I'm going after Tomlinson and Gates first.